World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of better mental health. The day is celebrated at the initiative of the World Federation of Mental Health and is supported by World Health Organisation and its partner institutions through raising awareness on mental health issues. World Mental Health Day was observed for the first time on 10 October 1992. World Mental Health Day 2026 The theme for World Mental Health Day 2026 is "Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change". World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to meaningfully engage with people with lived experience (PWLE) of mental health conditions and to recognize their knowledge as a vital form of expertise. This year’s campaign calls for their voices to shape the policies, services and decisions that affect their lives. Lived experience is what someone has experienced themselves, especially when it gives the individual knowledge or understanding that people who have only heard or learnt about such experiences do not have. Too often, PWLE are asked to share their stories but excluded from decisions. Meaningful engagement extends beyond simply being heard. It means creating opportunities for people to influence decisions, co-design services, strengthen peer-led approaches, challenge stigma and strengthen accountability. When PWLE are meaningfully engaged, mental health systems are likely to become more person-centred, rights-based and responsive to people's needs and concerns. One important priority for PWLE is the shift away from long-stay psychiatric institutions towards community-based, person-centered mental health care. Institutions tend to be isolating and are too often associated with poor-quality care, coercion and human rights abuses. Deinstitutionalization requires a carefully planned shift in funding, services and support so that people can live in their communities. Reflecting this priority, WHO will launch practical guidance on deinstitutionalization. On this World Mental Health Day, let us move from listening to action – and build mental health systems with PWLE, not merely for them. Key messages Lived experience is expertise - Lived experience comes from personally experiencing mental health conditions and seeking, receiving – or being unable to get – adequate care and support. Lived experience of mental health conditions takes many different forms. No one person can speak for everyone. People with lived experience must be central in shaping mental health care: nothing about us without us. Increasingly people with lived experience are being heard, but there is still much work to do. Mental health policies and services are stronger when they are designed, delivered and evaluated with people who use them. Most people with lived experience understand what is required for recovery. Meaningful engagement does not only mean sharing testimonies. Deinstitutionalization and rights-based care are important to many people with lived experience. Millions of people with mental health conditions remain isolated in institutions rather than receiving the support they need to live and participate in society. People with lived experience want to live with dignity, freedom and support. They want rights-based, person-centred care, rather than custodial systems. We must listen to people who have experienced institutional care and involve them at every stage of deinstitutionalization. They have the right to access person-centred care, housing, education, work and social supports in the community. Source : WHO Related resources Mental health in emergencies - Fact sheet The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Minimum Service Package